Local artists will get many chances to create artwork on utility cabinets found along the streets of diverse neighborhoods in Texas cities in the Mini Murals Program Artist Registry this year.
Houston and UP Art Studio made the Mini Murals program a year-round opportunity for Texas artists, with applications reviewed quarterly, according to a release from the Office of the Mayor in Houston. In the program, artists create small-scale murals on traffic signal control cabinets and other utility cabinets. Artists have received commissions to paint more than 300 Mini Murals in the past five years, with the program paying more than $300,00 to local artists in that time.
Artists can apply at any time starting this year. Many commission opportunities are available in 2021.
"The pandemic has hit artists hard, and we are grateful to our wonderful clients for funding programs that allowed us to pay artists in 2020", Noah Quiles, a principal of UP Art Studio, a Houston-based civic art consulting firm, said.
Mini Murals artist Anat Ronen has worked in the project since 2015 and does several mini murals each year.
"I love this project for two main reasons. First, the initiative employs a large number of artists for a large number of boxes. Second, the initiative brings art to parts of town otherwise not having any," Ronen said.
The cities of Houston and Austin, and area management districts, have provided major funding.
"We've seen that this has helped to launch the early creative careers of artists who have since gone on to pursue public projects on a larger scale,” Debbie McNulty, director of the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, said.
Artists need to read the program overview for artists, the Mini Murals Artist Registry application and the program rules at the artist information page at MiniMurals.org.
The deadline for electronic submission of the application form and supporting documents is March 15. All applications must include a portfolio with examples of prior relevant work and the artist’s resume. Artists who are picked will be informed by March 30.
Ongoing notices of calls for renderings will be sent to those artists. These notifications offer opportunities to submit specific Mini Mural ideas, making the step essential to receive a commission.
Diverse artists are sought who have experience of living in projects areas that have been home to people of color and have been underserved.
Applications submitted after the deadline will be held for the review panel to consider until the next call for renderings is made.
Alerts Sign-up